One of the jobs on my “To Do” List was to refill all of the jars in my pantry so that I’d have easy access to all of the staple ingredients I reach for so often. Since I typically purchase these ingredients in 25-50 pound quantities, I store them big buckets, and pour a smaller portion into easy-access jars in my kitchen, refilling as needed. (Read more here about where I purchase most of my food, and scroll through these posts to learn more about my bulk shopping and storage.)
My favorite part of this system, besides the fact, of course, that this just makes my life easier and saves us money while we strive to eat a whole foods diet is this: I love staring at my jars full of pretty food.
It’s a slight obsession. A major obsession? Yeah, probably something like that.
Well, after just a few minutes of going back and forth from storage room to kitchen, lugging buckets and bags of dry goods (a great upper arm work-out!), all of my jars are re-stocked and ready to go. Pasta, sucanat, wheat, salt, beans, corn, and rice. Oh so beautiful.
This is the part of my pantry I stare at when I most need a fix:
Hey, it’s much healthier than my former Pepsi addiction, right? :)
Just wondering if you have found anything that does not store well in jars? I am phasing in using jars to store, and I too love the way it looks! We are in the process of renovating the kitchen and I am thinking about adding some shelves in a corner just to have things accessible in jars :) Do you buy your spices in bulk (I am able to get most of mine this way from a local health food store) and if so, have you found jars with a flip open lid for east access? Thanks for any tips you have!
Off the top of my head I can’t think of anything that doesn’t store well in jars. (Legos?!) :)
I do buy my spices in bulk, but just put them in regular jars with regular lids. Love the idea of flip open lids! Where have you seen those?
The lid from a store bought parmesan cheese shaker will fit a mason jar.
Ooh, what a great idea!
I use the parm lids on jars for seasonings. I love it! Best idea I ever came across. I love jars as much as you do Laura! I am currently restocking as well.
Those look so beautiful! I’ve been changing over everything myself! I buy my spices in bulk and keep them in half pint canning jars with the plastic lids. Makes them a breeze to use!
I like the look, feel, and healthiness of jars. I am on an anti-plastic campaign. Some of my guests dislike this because I have concrete floors. My home is old so the cabinets are high. I have broken more than my fair share of glass jars around here. My guest, which visit frequently, cringe when they get butterfingers and let a glass cup or jar slip from their grip (look at that, I am a poet and didn’t know it, lol). No matter how much I reassure them that it’s ok and breakage with loud sounds is part of my anti-plastic campaign, the evil stuff manages to find a place in my home. Someone always gifts me with plastic. Glass jars are beautiful in a food artsy kind of way. I am glad someone else shares this beauty.
My guests never could believe that I served drinks to my little ones in glasses. I think we have more breaks now that they are older than we did when they were little. :)
Do you buy new jars, find old ones?? I’m…slowly…switching over to glass, but I’m wondering if there’s a good place to find quality jars with out breaking the bank??
Occasionally I have bought new jars, but mostly, my jars are used ones that I’ve purchased at garage sales and such. Plus, people know I love jars so often when they come across a big one that they are finished with, they just give it to me!
The dollar store has been a great place to find inexpensive and very functional jars.
I love it! I also love to just open my pantry and look at the line of jars…thanks for sharing, I feel less odd now :) I thought I didn’t need to label them until I made curried lentil dip with spit peas. It was still good but I decided I wasn’t above needing labels. Our five year old like to go through and name them all off. It is fun to see the kids recognizing foods like millet that I have only learned about in the last few years.
Ha! Yes, I don’t have all of mine labeled either and sometimes I have regretted that. :)
I love storing in glass and have been for over 30 years. Some beans and grains in the same glass gallon jar they were stored in all that time (periodically washed!) I particularly love the jars, most older, that are shaped like fruit or vegies. Applesauce in apple shaped jars and pickles in a barrel shaped jar.
It does look beautiful! So, the obvious question is “Where do you get all those jars?” I’ve got plenty of canning jars, but the jars in the last picture appear to be square, which would be so nice for space efficiency.
Those square jars came from our local “Dollar General” store. They were inexpensive and have been GREAT! Otherwise, I get them inexpensively from garage sales or free because people know I love jars and give them to me!
are those jars plastic or glass? I do not use plastic to store food in. I get my gallon jars from our local collage. When they are done with the pickle jars they place them out the back door of the kitchen and I have a friend that works there pick them up for me. Free is always great!!! Takes a little while to get the pickle smell out though.
Glass. They are very nice quality for being just “dollar store” jars.
I have used old jars for years. The best ones are the old half-gallon jars with the zinc lids that have the ceramic inserts in them. I also have found some wonderful french terrines at The Container Store, but they are sadly expensive. And their spice jars are wonderful too. I just notice that William Sonoma here in OKC started carrying Weck jars which are awesome, but I refuse to spend $30 for 6 jars (inclusive of glass lids, rubber rings, and metal clamps). Now, if someone wants a birthday/Mother’s Day gift idea…that would be ideal! I did luck into an estate sale where they were selling all sorts of odd sized canning jars which I immediately scooped up and have found uses for.
http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/foodStorage/jarsTerrines
Laura, Thank you I needed a laugh. I thought I was the only one that stared at my beautiful jars of food storage. It really gives me a satisfying feeling knowing I can take care of my family easily. It looks so pretty too :)Have a great day and God bless. Carrie
Ahhh so beautiful!! I would stare at them too. I only have 2 jars but thinking about adding to that soon as I keep buying more and more bulk from Azure :)
I’ve seen the large square jar in Wal*Mart. They sell it as a cracker jar. Unless you open the cracker pouches it is difficult to use it a a cracker jar. The crackers go stale if not stored in the wrapper.The opening of the jar doesn’t lend itself to gettting a stack of crackers into the jar. To me, having a container more in the shape of the cracker box would make much more sense.
The lids for jars do not seem to keep things like crackers fresh (although we eat very few crackers). The Ball white plastic lids, which I love for other uses, are definitely not air-tight. I have had to use the lids with bands if I want a tighter seal, but then it is more hassle to reclose. Any other solutions?
Thanks for a “jar fix”. You hadn’t posted anything for a while, and I miss it. I love my jars as well, and store everything in them. Just today, I received a package from ReCap. I don’t know if you have seen them, but they make the neatest jar lids that look like the old zinc lids. But they are a pour spout. So convenient for beans, rice, liquids, etc. In 10 weeks, they are bringing out the wide mouth ones. Also, they are BPA free. Check it out and see what you think. Maybe they will let you mention them on your blog. Love to you and all “5” boys.
Laura, two questions: How does one store all these heavy jars filled with grains and beans in the pantry without the shelves collapsing (you must have VERY sturdy pantry shelves)? And … just wondering if you are canning this year with Tattler lids instead of regular lids (with BPA), and if so, how is that working out? We are considering switching if it seems to be worth the expense. Thanks!
I LOVE GLASS JARS TOO!!!! Everything looks so much prettier in a Mason. :)
I am like you I love clear glass jars, would love to have square jars don’t know where to get them. Thanks Dorothy
I actually just found mine at our local dollar store. :)
Hey! I really like those jars where can I find some ive been looking everywhere for them please give me an idea… Thanks